Pagans

[sbvera13]

- What gods do pagans generally worship?

I can speak only for myself. I am an animist, and revere the natural spirits that live in all things. Think "spirit guide" for the closest approximation, since explaining it in depth would take a while. Also, worship is a poor term to use, since I believe in the equality of all spirits and worship implies some of them must be superior.

- What makes you think that your "gods" exist?

Personal experience. I have encountered many spirits under many different circumstances.

- How do pagans view monothiestic religions such as Christianity, Islam, and Judaism?

This is difficult. By rights, these religions are equal to any other, including my own. However, the behavior of many followers of these faiths leads me to a dim view of them. Whether this poor behavior is aproduct of the religion, or of misguided individuals, I have never been able to answer.

- Can someone also provide me on some reading material regarding paganism(I like studying religion)?

Here is a useful essay on modern paganism in a very general context.
http://www.sharedwisdom.com/modern.htm

 

[sidhe]

Well I just want to ask a few questions, about paganism, of my own as well...

- How many sects of paganism exist?

Countless. Most people I've met who are pagan have their own personal paganism, to some extent.

- What gods do pagans generally worship?

It varies. I've got a big Babalon devotion, myself.

- What makes you think that your "gods" exist?

I'm not sure they exist outside my head. They may just be useful psychological devices that I choose to use. Or my head may be much bigger than I imagine, and God exists in my head.

- How do pagans view monothiestic religions such as Christianity, Islam, and Judaism?

I've got no problem with 'em.

- How does Wicca come into the mix as far as paganism, goes?

Wicca is a subset of paganism like Baptist is a subset of Christian. Kind of. There's not so much similarity between different pagan sects as there is between different Christian sects.

- Can someone also briefly explain to me what Wicca is?

Others have done a bang up job of this.

- Can someone also provide me on some reading material regarding paganism(I like studying religion)?

For my brand of paganism, I recommend Liber AL vel Legis, Liber Aleph, and Magick in Theory and Practice.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

What gods do pagans generally worship? It varies.

I've got a big Babalon devotion, myself.

Is that anything like "Babylon"?

http://www.eliyah.com/lexicon.html

babylon occurs 286 times in 252 verses:

Babel (Strong's 0894) occurs 262 times in 233 verses:
Babulon (Strong's 897) occurs 12 times in 11 verses:

Acts 7:43 and ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan--the figures that ye made to bow before them, and I will remove your dwelling beyond Babylon.

 

[sidhe]

Is that anything like "Babylon"?

http://www.eliyah.com/lexicon.html

babylon occurs 286 times in 252 verses:

Babel (Strong's 0894) occurs 262 times in 233 verses:
Babulon (Strong's 897) occurs 12 times in 11 verses:

Acts 7:43 and ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan--the figures that ye made to bow before them, and I will remove your dwelling beyond Babylon.

The two are related, but not by any standard interpretation.

 

[Abbadon]

Crowley had a rather unorthodox reading of the Christian Bible. The Babalon of Thelema is inspired by the idea of a feminine aspect of the divine being considered a harlot because she doesn't turn away anyone. The Thelemic Babalon and the Christian harlot of Babylon are same image, inverted meaning (like the letters "d-u-c-k" meaning "large thing that possesses no feathers, does not fly, does not quack, does not waddle, does not swim, does not have a bill, does not associate with ducks and could not be confused with a duck if you saw it.") This results in some confusion between the two.

 

[GuitarHero2]

Crowley had a rather unorthodox reading of the Christian Bible. The Babalon of Thelema is inspired by the idea of a feminine aspect of the divine being considered a harlot because she doesn't turn away anyone. The Thelemic Babalon and the Christian harlot of Babylon are same image, inverted meaning (like the letters "d-u-c-k" meaning "large thing that possesses no feathers, does not fly, does not quack, does not waddle, does not swim, does not have a bill, does not associate with ducks and could not be confused with a duck if you saw it.") This results in some confusion between the two.